Forbury Gardens is a public park in the Reading. The park is situated next to Readng Abbey.
The garden originated due to Monasteries in English towns having a Forbury, which was simply a ‘borough in front’, or a large area of open land either just inside or just outside the abbey walls. This allowed the monks from Reading Abbey to mix with the people from the town. The Forbury in Reading was part of the outer court of the Abbey, and provided a market place as well as a meeting place.
The Garden was built in 1855 and included a fountain and summer house. The Garden was officially opened in 1856. The Garden is also home to The Maiwand Lion statue. Fairs were also held on the site three times a year until the early 1800s.
In 2004, the Gardens were restored and were re-opened in 2005. This was thanks to a £2.13 Million Heritage Lottery Fund awarded Reading Borough Council to restore the gardens.
There is also a mulberry tree dating back to Victorian times in the Inner Forbury area very close to the newly built kiosk.